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How to display and edit Chinese on English Windows systems
Version 1.0
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- System requirements
- Software Installation
- Working with Chinese
- Unicode to GB/Big5 text converssion
- Other resources
- Disclaimer
1. Introduction
This tutorial is intended for those who are new to Chinese computing on the Windows95/98/NT4.0/2000/XP platforms (English version). It provides information on how to use the resources available on the Internet to add Chinese capability to your machine. If you follow the instructions successfully, you will be able to do the following on the Windows (English version) platform:
- Display Chinese in web browsers;
- Edit Chinese documents using such applications as Microsoft Word97/2000/XP and NJStar, etc.;
- Create Chinese webpages using such authoring tools as Dreamweaver, etc.;
- Send/read Chinese email messages;
- Use Chinese file/folder names on your windows system; and
- Have shell access to a Unix box through either telnet or SSH with (limited) Chinese support.
Note that the instructions in this tutorial will apply to both GB (simplified) and Big5 (traditional) encoded Chinese. I will not make a distinction between the two unless necessary. It is recommended that you install all the software as suggested in this tutorial so that you will have an English windows system with comparable Chinese capabilities as its localized Chinese counterpart.
Note also that this tutorial describes one possible approach to Chinese computing on the Windows platform (English version). Other alternatives do exist.
Before you continue, please read the Disclaimer section first. For comments and suggestions, please use the online form to contact me or send email to jda@mtsu.edu.
2. System requirements
- Operating system: Windows95/98/NT4.0/2000/XP (English version);
- Hardware: Whatever that supports Windows95/98/NT4.0/2000/XP;
- Web browsers: Netscape Communicator 4 (or better), Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (or better);
- Optional (but recommended): Microsoft Office2000/XP or (less preferred) Office97.
3. Software Installation
3.1 Before you begin
Make sure you have Internet Explorer 5 (or better) installed on your PC. To check the version of Internet Explorer running on your PC, you can look at the About Internet Explorer window from Explorer's Help menu.
The latest version of Internet Explorer can be downloaded from Microsoft's website.
3.2 Download and install software
Three packages need to be installed:
- Follow the instruction based on your computer's operating system:
- Windows2000/XP users: There are two ways to enable Chinese support on your Windows system. Get your Windows2000/XP system CD ready just in case you are prompted.
- From Control Panel, open Regional Options. Under the Languages tab, check 'Install files for East Asian languages';
- If you have access to your Windows2000/XP (system) CD, you can install the two packages (without input support) in this way: First, open up your Internet Explorer; Then, place the cursor within the browser window, Right-click your mouse and choose Chinese (whether GB or Big5) from the encoding option. You will be prompted to insert your Windows2000 CD. Just follow the instructions on the screen to complete your installation.
- Windows9X/NT users: Download free Chinese language support package (click HERE to download) from Microsoft. (Please read the instructions on that page for detailed information!) The two files to be downloaded are called Microsoft Global IME for Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), with filenames as scmondo.exe (for simplified) and tcmondo.exe (for traditional), respectively. After downloading, just double click on each downloaded file to get them installed. Depending on the windows system you use, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Reboot your computer as instructed. Note that if you have the MS Office97 CD, those two language support packages (without input method support) are also available under the \valuepack\fareast folder.
- Windows2000/XP users: There are two ways to enable Chinese support on your Windows system. Get your Windows2000/XP system CD ready just in case you are prompted.
- IME tutorial: You can check out http://www.andante.org/ime.html for a more detailed tutorial.
- (Optional) Download and install the latest version NJStar Communicator from www.njstar.com. (The current production version is 2.30) It is shareware. If you choose the .zip file format, you need such utilities as WinZip or Aladdin Expander to uncompress it first. The .exe format will self-extract.
- (Optional) Download and install NJStar Chinese Word Processor (Current version: 4.35) from www.njstar.com. Again the downloaded .zip file needs to be uncompressed first.
Notes: There are nothing special for installing the three packages mentioned above. Just accept the defaults (i.e., clicking on OK when prompted) during installation and you will be in good shape.
3.3 What have you installed
- Microsoft Chinese language support packages are system extensions which provide Chinese support to the Windows system. In particular, a few Chinese TrueType fonts are added to the Fonts folder on your PC:
Windows9X/NT4: MS Song for simplified and Mingliu for traditional.
Windows2000/XP: The fonts for Simplified Chinese are called SimSun and NSimSun now instead of MS Song, whereas Traditional Chinese font name remains the same. - NJStar Communicator is a Chinese system extension to the Windows platform. With its own font and input methods, it will enable you to display and input Chinese when using other Windows applications.
- NJStar Chinese Word Processor is a standalone word processor for inputting and editing (as well as printing) Chinese texts. If you are going to use Chinese extensively on your computer and/or have to deal with GB/Big5-encoded (in addition to Unicode-encoded) Chinese text, it is recommended that you install NJStar Chinese Word Processor.
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